Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been playing with a sore hip flexor, but he wants to continue catching, Manager Ron Gardenhire said today.

Gardenhire said Mauer felt the injury after tripping around first base in Tuesday’s 12-inning tiebreaker victory over Detroit. After Friday’s 11-inning loss in Game 2, Mauer acknowledged that he’s been sore and that it affected it’s affecting his base running.

But today Mauer said he intends to catch, not DH, the rest of the way.

UPDATED: Third baseman Matt Tolbert strained a left oblique muscle in Game 2, so the Twins replaced him on the Division Series roster with infielder Brian Buscher. Brendan Harris will start at third base in Game 3, Gardenhire said.

If the Twins advance to the ALCS, Tolbert will be ineligible for that series, but he could added to the World Series roster, if the Twins make a miracle run.

(*) The Twins wound up holding a partial workout today. They landed at MSP last night about 2:20.

“Got off the plane, got hit by a gust of wind, 29-30 degrees,” Harris said. “That told us we were back in Minnesota.’’

(*) Brian Duensing will be available in relief for Game 3. Guessing he’ll get the call at the first sign of trouble for Carl Pavano. If the Twins advance, they’ll have Scott Baker start Game 4 and Nick Blackburn start Game 5.

I’m writing this from somewhere high above Michigan. This flight has Wi-Fi service, and I’m loving it.

The Twins are holding a workout at the Metrodome at 10 a.m. With La Velle, Souhan and I making our way back from New York, Strib baseball editor extraordinaire Dennis Brackin is covering for us, until we’re back in position.

I hope to be back on the ground in time to catch Manager Ron Gardenhire’s press conference, after the workout. If we get updates on Matt Tolbert’s strained oblique muscle, Joe Mauer’s general soreness, etc., we’ll post them here.

The Twins are back on the verge of elimination, much like they were for their final five regular season games. Granted, they weren’t playing this Yankee juggernaut then, but surviving last week taught this team that anything’s possible. More later on what they’re saying from the Dome.

NEW YORK — Twins manager Ron Gardenhire hinted Thursday that Carlos Gomez would be in the starting lineup for Game 2, and today, that proved true.

Gomez will start in center field with Denard Span moving to right field, and Jason Kubel back in the DH spot, as the Twins try to even this best-of-five series with the Yankees.

Essentially, the swap is Gomez for Jose Morales, who has been slumping of late, but we’ll see what kind of at-bats Gomez puts together against the Yankees arsenal of strikeout specialists, beginning with starting pitcher A.J. Burnett.

Update: Gardenhire mentioned A.J. Burnett’s right/left splits as part of the reason for starting Gomez. Lefthanded hitters batted .217 against Burnett, and righthanders batted .285. Gardenhire said he wanted as many righthanded hitters in there as possible.

Gomez also improves the outfield defense.

“His at-bats have been better lately,” Gardenhire said. “Hopefully he’ll take that into the game tonight. This guy [Burnett] throws the ball down.”

(*) The Yankees’ Mark Teixeira is 6-for-6 off Blackburn with a walk, a home run and five RBI. But it’ll be tough to pitch around the No. 3 hitter, with Alex Rodriguez batting cleanup. Heck, with the Yankees lineup, it’s tough to pitch around anyone.

“When you start potentially putting people on base in this stadium, the way the ball flies, you’re making a smaller number [of runs scored] into a bigger number.” Gardenhire said.

(*) Gardenhire said Jesse Crain said he should be fine tonight. Crain was unavailable to pitch in Game 1 because of a sore groin.

TWINS (0-1)

1. Denard Span, RF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Jason Kubel, DH
5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Carlos Gomez, CF
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03 ERA)

YANKEES (1-0)

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Nick Swisher, RF
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Jose Molina, C

Starting pitcher: RH A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04 ERA)

Yankee Stadium. First pitch: 5:07 p.m. (Central). TV: TBS

NEW YORK — The Twins will not work out today between Games 1 and 2 of the Division Series, and it will be a key day of rest for a team that arrived at its Manhattan hotel at 4:15 a.m., Wednesday, about 14 hours before CC Sabathia’s first pitch in Game 1.

Manager Ron Gardenhire has a press conference at Yankee Stadium at 9:30 a.m. (Central), and we’re told that he’ll be joined by Game 2 starter Nick Blackburn and outfielders Denard Span and Jason Kubel.

I’ll post any relevant updates here.

Update: Jesse Crain received treatment this morning for a sore groin. He said he tweaked it during his appearance in Tuesday’s 6-5, 12-innint tiebreaker victory over Detroit. Gardenhire said Crain was unavailable to pitch in Game 1, but the Twins hoped to have him ready for Game 2.

Entering Game 1, Gardenhire had said all of his relievers were available, but he acknowledged Thursday that closer Joe Nathan probably benefited from a break, as well.

Catcher Joe Mauer was among those getting treatment today. Nothing unusual there, as Mauer routinely takes those measures to keep his body feeling good. He caught all 12 innings Tuesday and eight more on Wednesday, with the travel in between.

The Yankees clubhouse is about to open to the media. They are having a light workout today on the field. Souhan, La Velle and I will have much more previewing Game 2 for first editions.

Udpate: La Velle was among several reporters who got stuck in the press elevator for 20 minutes on the way to Gardenhire’s press conference. It probably wasn’t amusing to them, but it was to the rest of us. Crack reporter that the is, La Velle managed to text me a question to ask Gardenhire about Denard Span’s development as a hitter. Gardy’s chief concern was La Velle: “Are they serving breakfast on the elevator?” he said.

NEW YORK — It’s 68 degrees and partly cloudy at Yankee Stadium, but the wind is blowing at about 30 mph. Not sure if it’s blowing in or out, and it could be swirling, but wind could be a factor tonight.

The Twins set their 25-man roster for this series: The breakdown (12 pitchers): Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Jesse Crain, Brian Duensing, Matt Guerrier, Bobby Keppel, Francisco Liriano, Ron Mahay, Jose Mijares, Joe Nathan, Carl Pavano. (3 catchers): Joe Mauer, Jose Morales and Mike Redmond. (5 infielders): Orlando Cabrera, Alexi Casilla, Brendan Harris, Nick Punto, Matt Tolbert. (5 outfielders): Michael Cuddyer, Carlos Gomez, Jason Kubel, Denard Span, Delmon Young.

To keep 12 pitches, the Twins left infielder Brian Buscher off the roster.

No lineup yet for the Twins. I’ll post the Yankees’ lineup now and head to press conferences for Joe Mauer and Ron Gardenhire and post any updates later.

Update: The Twins didn’t arrive at their hotel this morning until about 4:15 a.m., Gardenhire said. He said the plane ride was pretty quiet, and the players a little drained today, but he doesn’t think they’ll have any trouble getting up for this game.

(*) Gardenhire said the Twins are now TBA for Game 3. It’ll be Nick Blackburn in Game 2, and then Carl Pavano or Scott Baker for Game 3, whoever feels better.

(*) Gardenhire said he tried to find a way to get Alexi Casilla in the lineup. Casilla is 9-for-13 (.692) in his career off CC Sabathia. Gardenhire said he didn’t want to stick Casilla at third base tonight. Another option would have been second base, as Nick Punto is 6-for-36 (.167) off Sabathia.

(*) Gardenhire said everybody in the bullpen will be available tonight.

Update: Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said Carl Pavano will indeed start Game 3, which means Baker for Game 4.

TWINS (87-76)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, RF
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Brendan Harris, DH
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Starting pitcher: LH Brian Duensing (5-2, 3.64 ERA)

YANKEES (103-59)

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Nick Swisher, RF
9. Melky Cabrera, CF

Starting pitcher: LH CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.37 ERA)

Yankee Stadium. First pitch: 5:07 p.m. (Central). TV: TBS